Walter Smith is unveiled by David Murray as the new Rangers manager, at their Murray Park training ground on January 10, 2007. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The growing ‘no-dough’ myth of Walter Smith as Rangers manager

By Editor - 15th Oct 2024, 05:57pm

No dough to spend? The forever growing myth of Walter Smith at Rangers…

A recent pic on X grabbed my attention from back in the 2009/10 season. It was an image of former Rangers (1872) player Kevin Thompson holding the league trophy that the now defunct club had won..

It wasn’t so much the player, but the t-shirt he was wearing which proclaimed ‘No dough? Two in a row. Which was a reference to their second successive league title at a time they were reckoned to be ‘skint’.

Rangers FC manager Walter Smith leaves the room after the press conference at the Moevenpick Stuttgart Airport Hotel on November 26, 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Unlawful tax schemes

Before I start my rant, I’d like to make one thing clear. We didn’t deserve to win the title that year as we were truly woeful under the management of Tony Mowbray and the former Ibrox club throughly deserved their title, setting aside unlawful tax schemes and secretive side letters.

Oldco Rangers Lose Big Tax Appeal. Evening Times front page press cutting.

‘Shoestring’ budget’ myth

What sticks in the throat is that there’s an ever growing myth that they managed to win these titles on a ‘shoestring’ budget. That of course is a load of nonsense.

Smith while having some restraints on his ability to spend compared to his first spell, was still heavily backed.

This wasn’t a side made up of free transfers, this was a side of seasoned international pros on massive salaries, beefed up even more through unlawful side payments that would ultimately lead to the death of Rangers FC.

Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan — Walter Smith, coach of Rangers FC gestures to his players during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park on March 11 2007. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Spent £20 million plus in transfer fees

Around £20 million plus in transfer fees was invested in that side alone. Money borrowed and ultimately never paid back. So while he was a decent manager Walter Smith was far from a miracle worker, despite what myths continue to be peddled.

They would do his legacy more justice by recalling what actually happened and how they all played their part in letting their club die. Walter too, though a decent manager nevertheless.

Here’s that tweet…

💙 Happy 40th Birthday Kevin Thomson. Joined #Rangers from Hibs for £2m in 2007. Over 3yrs he played 109 games and scored 3, with his debut goal in an Old Firm win. Helped us win consecutive League Titles, 2 League Cups & 1 Scottish Cup, aswell as reaching the UEFA Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/NjkwHQ1MFP

— 𝐖𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 (@WATP72RFC) October 14, 2024

Just an Ordinary Bhoy